BUTEA

MONOSPERMA
PALASH
PALASH

DESCRIPTION
Butea Monosperma (Palash) belonging to family
leguminosae- papilioneae is a medium- sized deciduous tree.
The Butea monosperma tree is also known as ‘flame of the
forest’ and bastard teak.

LOCAL NAMES
Tesu Bijasneha Chichra
Palash Dhak Bastard teak
Mutthuga Khakara Bengal kino

TYPE
Butea Monosperma, commonly called flame-of-the-forest or bastard teak, is a medium sized
Deciduous tree of the Pea family.

HABITAT AND SUITABILITY

It grows throughout all over the Indian subcontinent. Normally it grows in open grasslands
and scattered in mixed forest. The plantations of Butea Monosperma can be raised both on
irrigated and dry lands.
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HEIGHT AND SPREAD
It is a medium sized deciduous tree, 30 – 40ft in height
and about 30 ft of spread.

LEAF TYPE
The leaves are 3-foliate large pinnate, with an 8–16 cm
(3.1–6.3 in) petiole and three leaflets, each leaflet 10–20
cm (3.9–7.9 in) long. The flowers are 2.5 cm (0.98 in)
long, bright orange-red, and produced in racemes up to
15 cm (5.9 in) long.
Leaves

FLOWERING PERIOD
January to March is the Flowering Period of Butea
Monosperma and shed them by the end of the year that is by
December.

FRUITING
The fruit is a pod 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) long and 4–5
cm (1.6–2.0 in) broad.

Fruits
ECO SERVICES
Forest of Butea shows higher biomass production of shoot in comparison to root. The high
production of shoot maybe from the contribution of bole wood, branches, twigs and other
reproductive parts which increase with age of the plant while from the contribution of bole
wood, branches, twigs and other reproductive parts which increase with age of the plant
while the input of the root biomass is generally decreased with age.

RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
This beautiful tree is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. According to the legend Queen
Mahamaya seized a branch of this tree at the very moment of the birth of her son Gautam
Buddha. It is employed in various religious ceremonies. The middle leaflet of the trifoliate
leaves of this plant is supposed to represent Vishnu, the left Brahma and the right Shiva. The
dry twigs are used for the sacred fire (hom or havan) of the Navagraha Pooja to pacify the
nine planets on the occasion of Vastu shanti. In Himachal Pradesh it is used in funeral pyres.
Many religious songs have mention of the fruits and flowers of Palash being offered to Gods
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along with Keora, Bela, Kachnar, Champa, Gurhal and Mahua to fulfil their wishes.

APPLICATIONS
The tree can be used for various purposes in site
planning and landscaping due to its various
advantages. The bright orangish red colour takes
away all the focus of the viewer and even more
when complemented with a contrasting bright
greenery of nature.
As the tree is deciduous, it shed its leaves during
winters and hence will not obstruct the sun
during winters and hence, can be used in the
gardens as well.

Beauty of Palash
SUBMITTED BY:
VIVRAN THAKUR

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